(Untitled)

[anidan]

The gentle way

Comments

[delwyn]

Good luck with your grading, though from what you said it sounds like you won't need luck ;)

I've just set foot on the path of aikido, having discovered that there's a dojo two minutes walk from my front door. My second session ever is tonight, so I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow... all those muscles that aren't used to getting worked.

[anidan]

Thanks! Luck is still involved a little. I may get asked to defend against a person I find difficult to work with. Sometimes I find I do brilliantly with one partner, then suck donkey balls on the same technique with a different partner.

What style are you training in? I'm with the Aikido Kenkyu Kai group, which is technically Aikikai International.

[delwyn]

From checking the dojo's website I'm thinking the answer to your question is "Yoshinkan". Very much a noob at all this :)

[anidan]

We're all always noobs with aikido. More aikiwank ;p

But it's totally true, I've done things my sandan partner's don't expect, so they learn too. I like that.

The first things to make sure you get right is rolling and breakfalling. Ukemi ("taking the fall" is the closest translation I can come up with) is just as much part of the art as the pins. You get less muscle ache that way too :p Landing flat on your back and getting bone bruises on the back of your hips hurts like hell!

[psuedonym777]

The gentle way,
often misinterpreted as lacking strength,
is, in reality,
steel whipcord wrapped in velvet
that must be felt to be appreciated.

Words to live by in my opinion. Very nicely put. :o)

Yes, I do believe in the art, you don't have to throw me across the room to prove the point. :oP (although it may be fun just for shits and giggles!)

Luck with the grading!

[anidan]

Just don't grab me unexpectedly at Pheno and you'll be fine! I've almost managed to distinguish between hugs and attacks now ;p

[myrthe]

Is that taught in the first grading? One might hope so.